Related Stories

Did the Tories just lose the most electable man on the Conservative scene today? On Monday former cabinet minister Peter MacKay announced he was joining law firm Baker & McKenzie. The East Coast politician will keep his home in Nova Scotia but presumably spend most of his time in Toronto, at the firm's offices.

This could mean the possible leadership candidate is out of the running, instead opting to earn some decent Bay Street money to support his young family. Few would blame him.

But it’s more likely a temporary post that earns him quick cash while giving him the opportunity to hob-nob with power-brokers in the Big Smoke. It’s a great position from which to expand what’s no doubt an already impressive list of contacts and supporters.

After all, MacKay didn’t address the leadership when he announced his new job on Facebook. He’s on record from only the other week saying he had not ruled out a run for the top job.

This is frustrating for other potential candidates. Because if MacKay does run, he’s unlikely to announce early. Meanwhile other candidates of lesser profile need to spend as much time as they can on the campaign trail to build support – but it’s a support that could evaporate once/if MacKay jumps into the fray.

But MacKay can afford to bide his time. A recent exclusive Sun Media poll of Conservatives placed the former defence and justice minister at the top with 25% support, followed by outsider Kevin O’Leary’s 23%. The rest of the pack trailed far behind.

It’s no surprise MacKay is riding high. As the last leader of the Progressive Conservative party before the right united, he offers little ammunition to his opponents and the liberal-friendly media who want to tarnish all Tories as intolerant and nasty. His resume is one of the best out there. Plus he and his beauty queen wife give Justin Trudeau and spouse a run for their money in the style department.

In other words, MacKay’s in a great spot to build a Big Blue Coalition that stays true to the base while also attracting those increasingly progressive Liberal-Conservative swing voters.

Any candidate or idea or comment that puts such a coalition at risk should be avoided. Like Conservative MP Michael Chong’s line about Kevin O’Leary that he delivered on CBC radio Monday morning: “I think Mr. O'Leary is spending too much time in the United States. Donald Trump may be a political force south of the border, but that kind of politics isn't coming north any time soon."

Chong, another prospective (long-shot) contender, has needlessly alienated party members who have legitimate and sincere reasons to be interested in an O’Leary bid.

But regardless of who runs, the next leader is going to have to work hard to widen the tent. The Conservatives didn’t lose massive support in the 2015 election. Their percentage of the vote only dropped by 8% - but it was enough to send them from majority status to the opposition benches. However this proves that victory lies in the middle. Every little gesture to court these voters matters.

One example is how gay and lesbian Conservatives are now lobbying to remove the party’s policy “defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”

MacKay is a natural fit as ringmaster of a big tent. But that doesn’t mean other contenders shouldn’t try to beat him in such a race to the top.

Next Conservative leader needs to build broad coalition

Did the Tories just lose the most electable man on the Conservative scene today? On Monday former cabinet minister Peter MacKay announced he was joining law firm Baker & McKenzie. The East Coast politician will keep his home in Nova Scotia but presumably spend most of his time in Toronto, at the firm's offices.

This could mean the possible leadership candidate is out of the running, instead opting to earn some decent Bay Street money to support his young family. Few would blame him.

But it’s more likely a temporary post that earns him quick cash while giving him the opportunity to hob-nob with power-brokers in the Big Smoke. It’s a great position from which to expand what’s no doubt an already impressive list of contacts and supporters.

After all, MacKay didn’t address the leadership when he announced his new job on Facebook. He’s on record from only the other week saying he had not ruled out a run for the top job.

Angela Merkel’s proposed burka ban is huge news not so much because of what it is but because of who’s saying it. She’s one of the last politician in Europe you’d expect to float the idea. It means these sorts of policy ideas are well on their way to becoming acceptable fodder in mainstream, centrist politics.